Discogram question/concern...

[kimmers]

longroadahead,

Like Paul said, you need two discs tested to do the disco. One has to be a "control" or non painful disc.

Maddie,

They do discos here but some docs think there is no need for them, primarily, because they can see stuff on the MRI. However, the discogram is a unique test that points to the disc as the pain generator. I don't think I would do ADR without a discogram prior. And facet blocks can rule out facet joints as pain generators. Currently, you would not want an ADR if your facets are pain generators.

[daveinaustin]

I had two discograms through my back journey. The first one was very painful which lasted for five days. It was by a very seasoned doctor, who used an older technique. However, my pain was due to an extremely DDD L5-S1, and it took him four tries to get the needle into the paper-thin disc.

The second discogram was much easier, and was by a newer pain management doctor who is well versed with modern techniques. These days, they gauge the pressure and capacitance as the disc is inflated, and can quickly stop once pain is detected.

Of all honesty, you will need a few days of rest and increased pain medication after the procedure. However, I would not even consider ADR/fusion back surgery without the test. My wife always jokes that I'm a baby when it comes to pain. However, the short-term pain will provide long-term guidance.

Helpful note: bring your pain medication with you, so you can take it immediately after the procedure.

Good luck!

-Dave

[LBP]

I never knew what was wrong with me until I had a diskogram and even then drs were reluctant to treat me until I had a second one done. 2 different dr with the same results. Annular tears do not show up on an MRI results. I had to have a CT scan immediately after my second diskogram and even I could see what was going on. A no brainer. I didn't have remarkable bulges or disk height issues so my MRIs all showed basically unremarkable. I had tears causing the fluid from the disks to leak and irritate nerves which started the never ending pain cycle. Yet when I finally was referred to a surgeon...he commented that my early MRI's showed darkness at the affected levels.

One neurologist called diskography "controversial" and "inconclusive" yet it was the only definitive test for me and besides, my surgeon would never have done surgery on me without the two tests. He actually said he'd consider a third but since there wasn't a significant change in my symptoms since the two other ones, it would be up to me. By the third time I said no thanks, lets do surgery.

[cavalier]

I dunno I had 3 disco's for my lumbar - L4L5 was in crumbles & charred worse disc Dr B had ever seen he said. Now for my neck Dr B. would want to do a disco to be sure that we dont need to do a 3 level ADR - I personally feel the Disco is the best way for myself & the doc to know if it needs to be replaced or not when it is borderline.

Now I just am on hold waiting for word & insurance etc.

Jill